The Best And Worst States For Business 2016

Donald Trump shocked pundits and pollsters last week by winning the electoral college and the right to follow Barack Obama as the 45^th President of the United States. On the campaign trail he promised to make America great again and said we are “going to get tired of winning.”

Trump’s definition of what makes America great is up for debate, but there is no denying that the economy has sputtered in many parts of the country. Thirty-seven states had real economic growth rates below 2% annually over the past five years. Only three states are north of 3% since 2010. Yet, there are states that are “winning” thanks to low business costs, educated workforces and pro-business regulatory climates.

Forbes 11^th annual Best States for Business list measures which states have the best business climates and are poised to succeed going forward. Leading the way for the third straight year is Utah, which also ranked on top between 2010 and 2012. Only Virginia in 2013 interrupted Utah’s reign this decade as the Best State for Business.

Utah scores well across the board, with particularly high marks for its regulatory climate and growth prospects, which are both second best among the 50 states. Governor Gary Herbert has made cutting red tape a tenet of his administration since he was elected in 2009. He’s eliminated or significantly changed nearly 400 regulations during the past seven years. Utah also boasts a business-friendly legal climate and a fiscally sound government – it’s one of only 10 states to hold a AAA bond rating from all three ratings agencies. One marker of fiscal responsibility: State government employment is down 11% over the past five years despite an 8% rise in the population.

Utah’s growth prospects are strong in part because of a burgeoning tech sector. Venture capital investment was $1.5 billion combined in 2014 and 2015 compared to $635 million the two years prior. In April, PayPal co-founder and early Facebook investor Peter Thiel, along with Mitt Romney’s co-led venture fund Solamere Capital, announced plans to invest $100 million in Provo-based Vivint Smart Home. In a nod to its neighbor to the west and Utah’s ski terrain, the corridor connecting Ogden, Salt Lake City and Provo has been dubbed “Silicon Slopes.”

The state is home to a handful of “unicorns” like Domo Technologies, Insidesales.com, Pluralsight and Qualtrics. These privately-held firms, which boast VC investments that value the companies at more than $1 billion, can count on a deep pool of young, educated employees from schools like Brigham Young University and the University of Utah.

Old-school tech stalwarts like eBay, Oracle, Microsoft and Twitter have also expanded operations in Utah in recent years, escaping the higher costs along the West Coast. Energy costs in Utah are 19% below the national average.

Moody’s expects Utah’s job growth to be third best in the nation over the next five years, while EMSI forecasts the Beehive State to be tops in the nation for employment.

Forbes’ Best States for Business list factors in 40 metrics from 17 sources across six broad categories: business costs, labor supply, regulatory environment, economic climate, growth prospects and quality of life (click here for a detailed methodology).

A new addition in this year’s ranking in the regulatory category is a measure of laws that protect people from employment discrimination based on sexual and/or gender identity. The state ratings were provided by the Movement Advancement Project, which identified 18 states that offer protection for LGBT people and 18 states that are hostile.

LGBT policies are affecting the bottom line in places like North Carolina, which passed the controversial HB2 or "Bathroom Bill" this year requiring citizens to use the public facility that corresponds with their biological gender. The measure has already cost the state an estimated $630 million in economic activity. The NBA, ACC and NCAA pulled sporting events from the state and Deutsche Bank and PayPal halted expansions. “Some clients are actively staying away from North Carolina because of [HB2],” says Jeff Lessard, who works with clients on their occupancy and location strategies at Cushman & Wakefield.

Despite the backlash from HB2, North Carolina ranked second for the second straight year among the Best States for Business. The “hostile” rating didn’t alter the state’s overall rank, but it did knock down its regulatory category ranking three spots to No. 7.

Foreign direct investment has fueled much of North Carolina’s high-tech job growth, with $2.7 billion and 5,300 jobs generated from FDI in 2015, according to North Carolina Commerce Secretary John Skvarla, who says the state is on track to top those numbers this year.

North Carolina has the second smallest union workforce in the U.S. in terms of percent of total employment (South Carolina is first). The resulting benefit is labor costs that are 11% below the national average—fourth lowest in the country. North Carolina is the only state to appear in the top five of our Best States study every year.

Rounding out the top five states in 2016 are Nebraska, Texas and Colorado.

Florida is the biggest riser, up eight places to No. 12. The Sunshine State’s college attainment rate rose and the growth forecast rates among the nation’s best. Projected job and population growth are both expected to be second best in the country over the next five years with income growth fourth fastest. Florida ranks second among larger states in the Kauffman Foundation’s Index of Startup Activity.

Kentucky had the biggest drop, down nine places to 38^th, hurt by low levels of startup activity, as well lower ranks on growth for jobs, incomes, GSP and net migration, according to data from Moody’s Analytics. The state’s regulatory score also took a hit from its “hostile” rating regarding laws protecting LGBT people.

We rank West Virginia as the worst state for business, behind Alaska, Mississippi and Maine. It is the second straight year bringing up the rear for the state. Population growth has been anemic—worst in the U.S.—and the state’s college attainment rate is also the lowest in the country with only 19.6% of the population over the age of 25 holding a college degree. West Virginia ranked last in half of our six broad categories, including labor supply, regulatory environment and growth prospects.

Mountains frame the skyline of Salt Lake City in Forbes Best State for Business. (Photo: George Frey/Bloomberg)

Kurt Badenhausen
The Best And Worst States For Business 2016

Cheap Caribbean: Flights To Aguadilla, Puerto Rico On JetBlue From Just $82 Round Trip

The Caribbean can't get any cheaper, pirates! Head to Aguadilla, Puerto Rico on your next getaway with these wonderful jetBlue flights. Hit up Crashboat Beach, Survival Beach or Playa Rompe Olas for some sun and sand. Relax and forget your troubles in Aguadilla.

All flights are nonstop, with the exception of Washington, D.C./Baltimore (which have short layovers in Fort Lauderdale). There are tons of dates available between January and September 2017, perfect for you early birds and last-minute travelers.

from

 

$

82

 

pp

Aguadilla FlightsTimeframe: 23. Jan. 2017 - 5. Sep. 2017

ORIGINS

Fort Lauderdale, Orlando, Washington, D.C., New York

DESTINATION

Aguadilla

• FLIGHTS
  Flights to Aguadilla, Puerto Rico
  There are multiple flights between January and September 2017, with long and short trips possible. All of these flights are nonstop with the exception of the Washington, D.C. route. Please note that some of these flights arrive in the early-morning hours. Read the booking details carefully before purchasing.
  
• 
  

Cheap Caribbean: Flights To Aguadilla, Puerto Rico On JetBlue From Just $82 Round Trip

In Puerto Rico, A Woman Infected With Zika Prays For A Healthy Baby

Before the virus overwhelmed Puerto Rico, Zika already lurked in Keishla Mojica's home in Caguas.

First her partner, John Rodríguez, 23, became infected. His face swelled and a red, itchy rash covered his body. Doctors at the time diagnosed it as an allergy.

Two months later, Mojica, 23, had the same symptoms. Medics administered shots of Benadryl to soothe the rash and inflammation. She didn't give it much more thought.

A month later she also found out she was pregnant, and that eventually led to a surprising revelation. The rashes hadn't been caused by allergies, but instead by Zika, a virus known to cause serious birth defects.

Since 2015, the virus, which is spread by mosquitoes and sexual contact, has risen from relative obscurity to a worldwide menace. Puerto Rico marks the epicenter of the outbreak in the United States. As of Dec. 16, the commonwealth's health department reported 35,648 confirmed cases, including 2,864 pregnant women. Federal health officials have declared a public health emergency, and anticipate 25 percent of the population will have contracted the virus by the end of 2016.

The epidemic raises difficult personal questions for women like Mojica, who live on an island with strong religious traditions and a health care infrastructure bowing under the weight of fiscal debt. They include whether to consider an abortion and how to care for a child that might have devastating disabilities like microcephaly.

In response to the association between congenital defects and the virus, virtually all pregnant women on the island undergo testing for Zika as part of their prenatal care. Dr. Alfonso Serrano, 57, chairman of the obstetrics and gynecology department at HIMA San Pablo Hospital in Caguas and Mojica's doctor, said the testing has shown that 5 to 8 percent of his patients have contracted Zika.

Even though the threat of Zika frightens women, he said, most of his patients don't consider abortion. "It's not something that is talked about every day," he added.

Abortion is easy to obtain here and relatively inexpensive, but surveys show that an overwhelming majority of residents said they oppose the practice.

For Mojica, abortion was the first thought that crossed her mind when she heard she had been infected. She told no one but her mother and Rodríguez about the diagnosis. She cried and prayed often. Public service announcements on television about the outbreak angered her. But Mojica never actually discussed the possibility of an abortion with anyone.

"I waited until they gave me the results and that they verified everything," she said. But she quickly put aside any thoughts about abortion. "I said, 'No, forget it. Everything's fine. Forget about it.' That was in the moment."

The echoes of Roman Catholicism introduced by Spanish colonial rule still reverberate through contemporary Puerto Rican society. Ninety-nine percent of its residents say they believe in God. Children greet their elders by asking for a benediction, to which they reply, "Dios te bendiga" — "May God bless you."

But the church's influence is declining. Just over half of the population self-identifies as Catholic, according to a 2014 Pew Research Center survey. In contrast, the number of Protestants has surged, now comprising a third of residents.

Although Zika poses a rare and extraordinary threat to pregnant women, Puerto Ricans and religious leaders remain steadfast in their opposition to abortion. More than 70 percent of Catholics and eight out of 10 Protestants in the archipelago say they morally oppose the procedure, according to Pew.

In February, the Catholic Archbishop of San Juan, Roberto Octavio Gonzalez Nieves, released a statement responding to the health department's advisory to use condoms as part of preventing Zika transmission. The church's stance against birth control are "well-known," he said, encouraging couples to practice "personal discipline," or abstinence from sex, instead.

The Pentecostal Fraternity of Puerto Rico (FRAPE), a network of Pentecostal churches across the island, also view opposition to abortion as a non-negotiable tenet.

"God is the giver of life," says FRAPE president Alberto Rodríguez. "And he has absolute control to take it or give it."

Although rates have declined in recent years, thousands of women in Puerto Rico continue accessing abortion services. Seven of the commonwealth's eight clinics performed 5,363 abortions in the fiscal year starting July 2013, based on the most recent data available from the commonwealth's health department. In comparison, Connecticut and Iowa, which have roughly the same population as Puerto Rico, reported nearly 12,000 and 4,700 abortions, respectively, in 2012.

Mojica was a faithful member of a Seventh-Day Adventist congregation that does allow for abortion under extraordinary circumstances, but says she now converses with God on her own.

Recent research suggests that Zika may cause a wider range of congenital problems than previously suspected, with some that may not manifest until well after a child is born. And with a quarter of Puerto Rico's residents thought to be infected, it is unclear how many babies will have special needs. But finding adequate care for children born with disabilities is difficult in Puerto Rico, where services are fragmented, poorly funded and already oversubscribed. Nearly half the population lives in poverty.

The Division of Children with Special Medical Needs, part of the commonwealth's health department, runs some programs to assist families with children with disabilities, such as Advancing Together, a service that trains caregivers and helps families set up a development plan for the child. But the program expires when the child turns 3, and responsibility for services is transferred to the Puerto Rican Department of Education, which has consolidated or closed dozens of schools in recent years due to declining enrollment rates and strapped budgets. Thirty percent of students attending public schools on the island in 2013 were enrolled in individualized education programs for children with special needs.


A sonogram taken in August of Keishla Mojica's fetus. She plans to call the baby Jayden. Doctors say all seems well, so far.

Nonprofit groups also play a role in helping children with special needs, such as Support for Parents of Children with Impediments and the Muscular Dystrophy Association. Yet, therapy services available are extremely limited, says Miguel Valencia, director of the Division of Children with Special Medical Needs.

Although half the island's residents rely on Medicaid for health insurance, Valencia says, many specialized clinicians no longer accept the plan due to low reimbursement rates.

Puerto Rican residents do not qualify for the Social Security Administration's supplemental security income program, which provides assistance if a medical condition results in severe disability, chronic illness or death. The service is limited to individuals living in the 50 states, the District of Columbia and the Mariana Islands.

Mojica is waiting to meet her son, who so far she has seen only in pixels of black and shades of orange. The ultrasound image shows the outline of a human face with his eyes closed directly facing the camera. It appears modulated, akin to a half finished piece of pottery. The five stubby fingers of his right hand are pressed against his forehead as if he is lost in contemplation.

The nursery overflows with outfits in anticipation of his arrival shortly after the new year. Black Converse booties and Batman onesies hang in the armoire. Wooden letters spell his name on the wall above the crib.

Although the fetus continues to grow without complications or signs of microcephaly, Mojica's son, whom she plans to name Jayden Aramick, still faces possible developmental delays from the virus that could develop after he arrives. But at this point, the risk no longer weighs on her conscience. She has given her worries to God.

"What He says is what will come to be," she said.

Kaiser Health News is a national health policy news service that is part of the nonpartisan Henry J. Kaiser Family Foundation.



Keishla Mojica, 23, lives in Cuagas, Puerto Rico. She was infected with Zika virus while pregnant and expects to give birth in early January.
CARMEN HEREDIA RODRIGUEZ
In Puerto Rico, A Woman Infected With Zika Prays For A Healthy Baby

Puerto Rico receives US$2M to fight Zika epidemic in mountains

 Puerto Rico has been awarded more than US$2 million in federal funds to fight Zika across mountain communities in the US territory's interior.

Health officials said Thursday that the money from the US Health Resources and Services Administration will be used to provide medical services and educate people about the mosquito-borne virus.

Puerto Rico has recorded nearly 36,000 cases of Zika, including 2,880 pregnant women. At least 10 babies have been born with Zika-related birth defects, and five people infected with the virus have died.

Puerto Rico receives US$2M to fight Zika epidemic in mountains

Zapping Zika: Puerto Rico Tourism Company Optimistic for 2017

Experiencing a 96% reduction in the number of new Zika cases since the peak in October 2016, the Puerto Rico Tourism Company (PRTC) is optimistic heading into 2017. Over the past ten weeks, there has been a markedly steady decline of reported new Zika cases, with new cases of Zika infection peaking at 5,317 for the week of October 7-14 but by the week of December 19-23 reported cases had decreased to a low of 222.

The Puerto Rico Tourism Company (PRTC) launched an aggressive educational outreach program in February, activated to dissipate the fears and communicate the real facts about Zika. Collaborating with the Puerto Rico Hotel & Tourism Association as well as Meet Puerto Rico, the PRTC broke through the Zika hype with a compelling message and strong voice: Facts not Fear.  Communicating the reality that Zika was not growing nearly as rapidly as the CDC had projected, the PRTC worked to change the Zika conversation, and emphasize the reality that reported cases are a fraction of what was projected. Cases are now at about 1 percent of Puerto Rico's 3.5 million population versus forecasts that 25% of Puerto Ricans would eventually have the virus by the end of the year.

The layered collaborative educational and fact- driven campaign has been successful.  "The dramatic decrease in the number of Zika cases in Puerto Rico is a testament to our integrated aggressive program to inform and disseminate the facts and allay the fears.  The PRTC worked incredibly hard with the industry and health officials to communicate accurate and precise messages about Zika to the public," says Ingrid Rivera Rocafort, Executive Director of the Puerto Rico Tourism Company (PRTC). "Ultimately, our team has been successful in not only educating our residents but protecting our visitors and our critical tourism industry."

Tourism annually contributes nearly $4 billion to Puerto Rico's economy and was the first industry to come out of the Island's five-year recession. Since the start of Zika, total hotel registrations from Jan.-Sept. in 2016 are 1.6% above 2015 and 10 million passengers are expected to be welcomed by Puerto Rico airports by the end of 2016.

Broadway star Chita Rivera, TV Host Maria Celeste, Baseball stars Carlos Correa and Ivan Rodriguez and Olympic Gold Medalist Monica Puig also helped the industry spread the word about the reality of Zika and how travelers can experience Puerto Rico worry free.  Medical influencers who also underscored the PRTC's message and educated travelers about facts over fear included the late epidemiologist Dr. D.A. Henderson, Distinguished Scholar at the UPMC Center for Health Security in Baltimore, Maryland; Dr. Jason James, Chief of Obstetrics and Gynecology at Baptist Hospital in Miami; and Dr. Joseph Rosado, a Primary Care and Emergency Care Physician in Orange City, FL. In addition, the World Health Organization declared in November that the Zika virus was no longer considered an international public health emergency.

"Our collaborative efforts to date in 2016 have been effective in allying fears, controlling Zika and the data backs it up," notes Clarisa Jimenez, President and CEO of the PRHTA. "It is imperative that we keep our foot on the gas pedal and aggressively continue all of our efforts to keep our visitors informed and our guests safe and worry free as we look forward with optimism through 2017."

For more information about the Zika virus in Puerto Rico, visit PuertoRicoNow.SeePuertoRico.com.    

About Puerto Rico Tourism CompanyThe Puerto Rico Tourism Company (PRTC), founded in 1970, is a public corporation responsible for stimulating, promoting and regulating the development of the tourism industry.  It markets Puerto Rico as a tourism destination through advertising, public relations and promotional activities; promotes tourism among visitors and local residents; provides visitor orientation and technical assistance to investors; evaluates tourism facilities and establishes standards of quality; and regulates and oversees gaming operations.  PRTC has offices and representatives in the U.S. mainland, Canada, Europe and Latin America.

SOURCE Puerto Rico Tourism Company

Puerto Rico's Tourism Industry is Poster Child for Successful Program in Protecting and Educating Travelers
Zapping Zika: Puerto Rico Tourism Company Optimistic for 2017

Kellyanne Conways says Trump’s team has found a way around anti-nepotism laws and hints at which relatives he’s most likely to hire

On Thursday’s episode of MSNBC’s “Morning Joe,” Kellyanne Conway addressed reports that President-elect Donald Trump could be in violation of federal law should he hire any of his family members once in office. She revaeled that Trump’s team has found a way around anti-nepotism laws and also hinted at which relatives he’s most likely to bring onto his staff.

Conway pointed out that this is a unique case, as the past few presidents have not had adult children while serving as Commander in Chief, and explained that the anti-nepotism law in regard to hiring relatives to White House posts has an exception.

“The anti-nepotism law apparently has an exception if you want to work in the West Wing, because the President is able to appoint his own staff,” she said. “So, of course, this came about to stop family members from serving in the Cabinet. But the President does have discretion to choose his staff of his liking. And so if that actually is true, and that legal advice holds, then that will open up a realm of possibilities.”

Joe Scarborough then asked Conway if Trump’s daughter Ivanka Trump and her husband Jared Kushner, who have been looking for a home in Washington, D.C., are most likely to get hired to the administration. Conway confirmed that it was “a fair assessment,” and that the pair are “incredibly talented and very smart.”

Conway pointed out that this is a unique case, as the past few presidents have not had adult children while serving as Commander in Chief, and explained that the anti-nepotism law in regard to hiring relatives to White House posts has an exception.

“The anti-nepotism law apparently has an exception if you want to work in the West Wing, because the President is able to appoint his own staff,” she said. “So, of course, this came about to stop family members from serving in the Cabinet. But the President does have discretion to choose his staff of his liking. And so if that actually is true, and that legal advice holds, then that will open up a realm of possibilities.”

Joe Scarborough then asked Conway if Trump’s daughter Ivanka Trump and her husband Jared Kushner, who have been looking for a home in Washington, D.C., are most likely to get hired to the administration. Conway confirmed that it was “a fair assessment,” and that the pair are “incredibly talented and very smart.”

“Ivanka’s very committed to women in the workplace, very committed to women in the global economy,” she added after saying that no final decision has been made on who will be given staff-level positions. “And she’s in a position where she can actually leverage that and make a difference for women in the economy.”

Kellyanne Conways says Trump’s team has found a way around anti-nepotism laws and hints at which relatives he’s most likely to hire

Anti-Nepotism act of 1967

(1)“agency” means—

(A)

an Executive agency;

(B)

an office, agency, or other establishment in the legislative branch;

(C)

an office, agency, or other establishment in the judicial branch; and

(D)

the government of the District of Columbia;

(2)

“public official” means an officer (including the President and a Member of Congress), a member of the uniformed service, an employee and any other individual, in whom is vested the authority by law, rule, or regulation, or to whom the authority has been delegated, to appoint, employ, promote, or advance individuals, or to recommend individuals for appointment, employment, promotion, or advancement in connection with employment in an agency; and

(3)

“relative” means, with respect to a public official, an individual who is related to the public official as father, mother, son, daughter, brother, sister, uncle, aunt, first cousin, nephew, niece, husband, wife, father-in-law, mother-in-law, son-in-law, daughter-in-law, brother-in-law, sister-in-law, stepfather, stepmother, stepson, stepdaughter, stepbrother, stepsister, half brother, or half sister.

(b)

A public official may not appoint, employ, promote, advance, or advocate for appointment, employment, promotion, or advancement, in or to a civilian position in the agency in which he is serving or over which he exercises jurisdiction or control any individual who is a relative of the public official. An individual may not be appointed, employed, promoted, or advanced in or to a civilian position in an agency if such appointment, employment, promotion, or advancement has been advocated by a public official, serving in or exercising jurisdiction or control over the agency, who is a relative of the individual.

(c)

An individual appointed, employed, promoted, or advanced in violation of this section is not entitled to pay, and money may not be paid from the Treasury as pay to an individual so appointed, employed, promoted, or advanced.

(d)

The Office of Personnel Management may prescribe regulations authorizing the temporary employment, in the event of emergencies resulting from natural disasters or similar unforeseen events or circumstances, of individuals whose employment would otherwise be prohibited by this section.

(e)

This section shall not be construed to prohibit the appointment of an individual who is a preference eligible in any case in which the passing over of that individual on a certificate of eligibles furnished under section 3317(a) of this title will result in the selection for appointment of an individual who is not a preference eligible.

(Added Pub. L. 90–206, title II, § 221(a), Dec. 16, 1967, 81 Stat. 640; amended Pub. L. 95–454, title IX, § 906(a)(2), Oct. 13, 1978, 92 Stat. 1224.)

LII has no control over and does not endorse any external Internet site that contains links to or references LII.

Anti-Nepotism act of 1967

Uber Anuncia Descuento tras Protesta de Taxistas

San Juan, Puerto Rico- Uber lanzó hoy, sábado 10 de diciembre, un 25% de descuento para hasta 4 viajes. Esto surge luego de la congestión vehicular en el área de Condado y San Juan, que surgió en la tarde de hoy debido al paro de taxistas.

“Llegamos a Puerto Rico hace unos meses ya que apostamos al crecimiento de la Isla del Encanto. Puerto Rico cuenta con una oferta turística con algo para todos: conciertos, bares, restaurantes, shopping y el hermoso Viejo San Juan. Uber llegó a Puerto Rico para hacerle la vida más fácil a los boricuas y a quienes visitan la isla, precisamente porque sabemos que ellos no paran.”, indicó Julie Robinson, Portavoz de Uber.

“Por eso hoy, que es un día tan complicado para trasladarse, hemos decidido ofrecerle 25% de descuento en Uber a todos nuestros usuarios en la isla, porque si #PuertoRicoNoPara, Uber no para.”, continuó.

Para obtener el descuento debes ingresar el código PUERTORICONOPARA y recibirás hasta 4 viajes con 25% de descuento (descuento máximo de $100). Este descuento aplica hasta las 11:59 p.m. de hoy, sábado 10 de diciembre de 2016.

“Tenemos un compromiso enorme con los boricuas y con Puerto Rico, que es uno de los mercados más prometedores y emocionantes para Uber en el Caribe.”, añadió Robinson enfatizando en que los puertorriqueños pueden hacer sentir su derecho a elegir su transportación firmando y compartiendo una petición que creó la compañía. La petición solicita que “la Compañía de Turismo y al Gobierno de Puerto Rico dejen elegir quién te llevará del aeropuerto a tu hotel, a tu apartamento o a la casa de tus viejos.”

Para accesar a la petición: https://action.uber.org/puertorico/

Robinson concluyó indicando que están convencidos que “un lugar tan progresista e innovador como Puerto Rico, con una historia tan amplia, tiene un deseo enorme de fomentar avances tecnológicos y opciones de movilidad que mejoren nuestra calidad de vida. Puerto Rico se encuentra en una etapa de crecimiento, de explosión cultural, económica, emprendedora y tecnológica. Uber llegó para contribuir y ser parte de este desarrollo.”

Uber lanzó hoy un 25% de descuento para hasta 4 viajes, luego de la protesta suscitada en el Viejo San Juan por el sector de los taxistas.



Uber Anuncia Descuento tras Protesta de Taxistas

HHS Awards $40 Million in Puerto Rico, American Samoa and the U.S. Virgin Islands to Fight Zika

Today, Health and Human Services (HHS) Secretary Sylvia M. Burwell announced nearly $39 million in funding to 23 health centers in Puerto Rico, American Samoa and the U.S. Virgin Islands and $1 million to two Primary Care Associations (PCAs) to help combat the Zika virus.

The health center awardees will use this funding over a three-year period to expand the availability of high quality preventive and primary health care services to meet immediate and anticipated Zika-related health care needs, and to enable health centers to expand services in response to urgent and emergent primary health care needs. The PCA awardees will use this funding to provide training and technical assistance to health centers in developing and implementing activities to address Zika-related prevention and primary health care needs.

“Health centers in Puerto Rico and other U.S. territories are on the front lines of fighting Zika. These awards will help provide training and technical assistance to health centers in developing and implementing activities to address immediate and anticipated Zika-related prevention and primary health care needs,” said Secretary Burwell. “During 2016, HHS has obligated $561 million in funding through work done at CDC, NIH, FDA, CMS and ASPR to combat Zika. HHS will continue to do everything it can to protect the American people and is moving quickly to implement the funding that was provided by Congress at the end of September.”

As of November 30, 2016, more than 37,000 laboratory-confirmed cases of Zika have been reported to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) from the U.S. states (4,496 cases) and territories (33,133 cases). Zika remains a serious health concern as Zika virus infection during pregnancy has been linked to fetal death and other adverse birth outcomes; including microcephaly and other potentially severe fetal brain defects. In addition, the CDC notes that several countries that have experienced Zika outbreaks recently have reported an increase in the number of people who have Guillain-Barré syndrome, a sickness that causes damage to a person’s nerve cells.

“With these awards, HRSA will further enhance preparedness and response, including the provision of primary health care services, and make critical investments in public health capacity,” said Health Resources and Services Administration (HRSA) Acting Administrator Jim Macrae.

Nearly 1,400 health centers operating over 9,800 sites provide care to more than 24 million people across the nation, in every U.S. state, the District of Columbia, Puerto Rico, the U.S. Virgin Islands and the Pacific Basin. Today, health centers employ nearly 190,000 people.

For more information on the U.S. efforts to combat the Zika virus, visit https://www.whitehouse.gov/Zika.

To visit a list of awardees, visit http://bphc.hrsa.gov/programopportunities/fundingopportunities/zika/fy20....

To learn more about HRSA’s Health Center Program, visit http://bphc.hrsa.gov/about/index.html.

To find a health center in your area, visit http://findahealthcenter.hrsa.gov/.

HHS Awards $40 Million in Puerto Rico, American Samoa and the U.S. Virgin Islands to Fight Zika

Puerto Rico Tourism Holds Steady In 2016

Despite a challenging year, demand for the destination of Puerto Rico in 2016 remains strong. Coming off of a historic record breaking 2015, The Puerto Rico Tourism Company is reaching its aggressive goal of welcoming ten million passengers to Puerto Rico airports.  Since the start of Zika, total hotel registrations from Jan.-Sept. in 2016 are 1.6% above 2015 and non-resident hotel registrations are 1.4% above the record breaking year. The PRTC's comprehensive "facts over fear" program to protect its residents and annual visitors continues to be instrumental.

"Puerto Rico's tourism in 2016 remained extremely resilient despite a challenging year. Our comprehensive education campaign was instrumental in informing and arming travelers with the facts about Zika for a worry free experience on the island,  mitigating the impact on an essential industry to the island's economy," said Ingrid Rivera Rocafort, Executive Director of the Puerto Rico Tourism Company (PRTC). "Additionally, the PRTC, Meet Puerto Rico and the Puerto Rico Hotel and Tourism Association (PRHTA) worked together to ensure the safety of visitors to Puerto Rico."

Puerto Rico builds on record breaking year and demand for the destination remains high (Photo Credit: Puerto Rico Tourism Company)

Tourism contributes nearly $4 billion to Puerto Rico's economy and is the first industry to come out of the Island's five-year recession. 2016 highlights that underscore the continued demand for travel, by air and sea, to Puerto Rico include:

• 10 million passengers will be welcomed by Puerto Rico Airports by the end of 2016
• 11 new airlines have arrived in 3 years, and over half a million new inbound seats, including Iberia and Allegiant Airlines starting service in 2016
• 94% room tax collected in 2016 compared to 87% in 2015, collecting an incremental $2 million in tax revenue, a 137% growth from 2012
• 70.4% hotel occupancy in 2015-16 reported from Jan.-August compared to 67.9% in 2012
• 1.5 million Cruise passengers arrived to Puerto Rico in 2015 with 1.6 million passengers expected in 2017-18
• Number one home port confirmed for cruise ships in the Caribbean attracting the world's newest vessels including the world's largest cruise ship, Harmony of the Seas (6780 passengers) which is scheduled to arrive in San Juan in December 2016
• From March to September 2016 Meet Puerto Rico hosted 132 groups with more than 211,000 attendees and not one Zika case reported from those attendees as per the CDC. Key conferences and conventions include the Routes Americas conference, the International Tourism Expo (ETI), the Florida-Caribbean Cruise Association (FCCA) Cruise Conference and Trade Show and the Caribbean Hotel Investment Conference and Operation Summit, Congreso Internacional de la Lengua Española VII, Jehovah's Witness and National Head Start Association among others, offsetting Zika related cancellations From March to September 2016.

High demand for Puerto Rico can also be attributed to the support of high profile Puerto Rican influencers who came together to spread the word about the island's beauty and offerings, putting Zika in perspective. Broadway star Chita Rivera, TV Host Maria Celeste and Baseball stars Carlos Correa and Ivan Rodriguez and Olympic Gold Medalist Monica Puig are some of the celebrities who spoke out in support of Puerto Rico. Medical influencers also voiced their support for continued exploration and travel, educating travelers about facts over fear. Doctors who helped spread the word included the late esteemed epidemiologist Dr. D.A. Henderson, Distinguished Scholar at the UPMC Center for Health Security in Baltimore, Maryland, Dr. Jason James, Chief of Obstetrics and Gynecology at Baptist Hospital in Miami; and Dr. Joseph Rosado, a Primary Care and Emergency Care Physician in Orange City, FL.  

The Puerto Rico Hotel & Tourism Association also collaborated with the PRTC to break through the Zika hype with a compelling message and strong voice.  An aggressive media educational outreach program was activated to dissipate the fears and communicate the real facts about Zika. "Starting in February, we worked with the PRTC to change the Zika conversation," said Clarisa Jimenez, President and CEO of the PRHTA. "The CDC called us "Ground Zero for Zika Virus" and projected that 25 percent of Puerto Rico'spopulation would have the virus. That has not materialized with currently less than 1 percent of the population reporting Zika.  We have been able to cut through the hype to reassure visitors that Puerto Rico is a destination where anyone can enjoy a worry-free vacation by taking simple precautions."

The PRTC has continued working closely with the CDC and the local Department of Public Health to ensure visitors are informed about Zika in Puerto Rico. For more information about the Zika virus in Puerto Rico, visit PuertoRicoNow.SeePuertoRico.com.    

About Puerto Rico Tourism CompanyThe Puerto Rico Tourism Company (PRTC), founded in 1970, is a public corporation responsible for stimulating, promoting and regulating the development of the tourism industry.  It markets Puerto Rico as a tourism destination through advertising, public relations and promotional activities; promotes tourism among visitors and local residents; provides visitor orientation and technical assistance to investors; evaluates tourism facilities and establishes standards of quality; and regulates and oversees gaming operations.  PRTC has offices and representatives in the U.S. mainland, Canada, Europe and Latin America.

Photo - http://photos.prnewswire.com/prnh/20161206/446399 
Logo -  http://photos.prnewswire.com/prnh/20160426/360380LOGO

Puerto Rico Tourism Holds Steady In 2016

Puerto Rico bankruptcies drop 26% in November

The U.S. Bankruptcy Court in Old San Juan was less active last month.
Bankruptcy filings dropped by 23 percent in November, when a total of 706 cases were filed, in comparison to the same month last year, according to preliminary figures released by research firm Boletín de Puerto Rico Thursday. The data shows that so far this year, Puerto Rico individuals and corporations seeking protection from creditors have filed 9,480 cases in U.S. Bankruptcy Court. The single-month drop matches the trend for the first 11 months, whose cumulative total represents a 1.1 percent year-over-year drop, the report shows. When broken down by categories, the November results conclude that three of the four types of filings showed drops, with only one category remaining flat. Chapter 7 filings, or those filed by individuals or corporations seeking total liquidation of assets, were down 23.9 percent in November, with 309 cases filed. So far this year, a total of 3,954 filings have been submitted in court, representing a 2.4 percent year-over-year drop. Chapter 13 cases, or those that allow individuals to undergo a financial reorganization supervised by a federal bankruptcy court, were down 26.5 percent in November, when 383 cases were filed. During the first 11 months of the year, 5,267 people have sought the court’s protection, representing a 2.6 percent year-over-year drop.

Puerto Rico bankruptcies drop 26% in November